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THE COMPUTING UNPLUGGED INTERVIEW
Inside the ARRL's objection to BPL interference
By David Gewirtz
When we first began our coverage of Broadband-over-Powerline (BPL), members of the ham radio community who also read Computing Unplugged made sure we understood that there's actually a controversy here, an important one. As we began to research the topic further, one organization's name kept coming up over and over: the American Radio Relay League, better known as the ARRL.
This organization is leading the charge against BPL and is providing virtually all the data being quoted by BPL's various detractors. Although we got an informative letter from the ARRL's laboratory manager, when we initially attempted to contact the ARRL, our calls and emails were not returned. Eventually, as part of our analysis, we began to wonder what forces drove the ARRL's campaign. We wondered about the extent of the tests that were being quoted and about the funding behind the $13 million organization.
It's amazing how, once you question someone's motivations, suddenly you get a response. Not only did we get email from a lot of pissed off ham radio operators, we also were approached by Allen Pitts, Media and Public Relations Manager for the ARRL. After some back and forth dialog, Allen agreed to be interviewed by Computing Unplugged. What follows is that interview.
David: Please explain the organization and purpose of the ARRL
Allen: "ARRL" is an acronym for "American Radio Relay League", a name that refers to the original purpose of the ARRL in the earliest days of radio. Obviously, ham radio has grown tremendously since then. We still use wireless communication, but now the "information" can include voice, images and data. Today, the 150,000-member ARRL is still the only organization in the United States dedicated solely to the avocation of Amateur Radio in all of its many forms.
The four core missions of the ARRL are:
- Public Service: the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, better known as ARES, provides communication support during natural and man-made disasters.
- Advocacy: The ARRL represents Amateur Radio at the local, state and federal levels.
- Education: The educational mission of the ARRL is to recruit new people to explore ham radio and to provide books and study guides for Amateur Radio activities such as license exams, mentor programs, school classrooms, instructional materials and training.
- Membership: we promote fraternalism and a high standard of conduct among Amateur Radio operators. The ARRL provides many direct services to members such as the Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Program, technical supports and a QSL (station verification reports) bureau.
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